What is the oxidation number for ba??
The correct answer and explanation is:
The oxidation number of barium (Ba) in most of its compounds is +2.
Barium is an alkaline earth metal, which means it belongs to Group 2 of the periodic table. Elements in Group 2 typically form ions by losing two electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This results in a positive charge of +2. The oxidation number represents the charge that an atom would have if the compound were purely ionic.
In a barium compound like barium chloride (BaCl₂), for example, barium will lose its two outermost electrons, forming Ba²⁺ ions. The chloride ions (Cl⁻) each have an oxidation number of -1. Since there are two chloride ions to balance the charge of one barium ion, the compound is electrically neutral overall. This confirms that barium’s oxidation number in BaCl₂ is +2.
In general, the oxidation state of barium in compounds where it forms ionic bonds, such as in barium sulfate (BaSO₄) or barium nitrate (Ba(NO₃)₂), will also be +2. This is because barium maintains a stable ionic state by losing two electrons, creating a cation with a charge of +2.
Oxidation numbers are essential in determining how elements interact in chemical reactions, especially redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions, where one substance is oxidized (loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons). In the case of barium, its constant +2 oxidation state simplifies its involvement in such reactions.